Parramatta have exorcised their NRL finals demons to book a spot in their first preliminary final in 13 years with a 40-4 win demolition of Canberra.
The Eels burst out of the blocks in front of a 29,134 strong crowd at Parramatta Stadium and never looked back after registering a 22-point lead inside 25 minutes.
The Eels' unflattering record under coach Brad Arthur - they had won just two of nine finals games in his tenure before Friday night's game - had been a big talking point after their week-one loss to the Panthers.
But they showed no signs of nerves with their premiership hopes on the line, reverting to their powerful and direct running game.
They will now travel to Townsville to take on North Queensland next Friday night, chasing their first grand final appearance since 2009.
The only slight concern for the Eels will be a head knock to Mitchell Moses, who was ruled out during last week's loss to Penrith with a concussion.
Moses went off for a head injury assessment in the second half but was given the all-clear to return and should be right for the game with the Cowboys.
The Eels hit the Raiders up the middle and offloaded at will - they had 20 offloads to the Raiders' 10 - before picking holes in Canberra's leaky edge defence.
Aside from the loss of back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera to an early concussion, the Raiders were architects of their own downfall.
An error from winger Jordan Rapana allowed Parramatta centre Will Penisini to score after just seven minutes.
Not long after, Raiders fullback Xavier Savage misjudged a bobbling grubberkick for Eels centre Tom Opacic to dive on the loose ball to extend the home side's advantage.
Canberra lost the battle for territory and possession and the Eels punished them with ease.
Moses, who kicked five from seven conversions and added a late penalty goal, sent a spiralling cut-out pass for Waqa Blake to waltz in untouched on the right flank.
Junior Paulo was next to go over for the Eels and Canberra could count themselves lucky that a breakaway try from Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson was chalked out by referee Ashley Klein for a forward pass from the lively Dylan Brown.
Maika Sivo also had a try ruled out for a bobble as he attempted to ground the ball, and the only consolation for Canberra was that an impressive Savage try ensured they weren't kept to nil.
Team stats
Trailing 22-4 at halftime Canberra needed to score first if they were to have any chance of staging an unlikely comeback.
But that threat was quelled when Paulo put Moses into space just five minutes after the break.
Paulo hit the Canberra line and produced another offload to send Moses racing away to the corner from 40 metres out.
With Moses off for a head injury assessment, the Eels lost their way with the ball in hand but they were still able to withhold everything Canberra threw at them.
Marata Niukore, who was filling in at centre after Opacic went off with a hamstring injury, scored a late double to seal the rout.
AAP
